Discovery Park hosts Seattle's largest bluff-top reserve. The local guidebook says there are sweeping vistas, chances to watch nesting bald eagles (again! We didn't get to see any last week at Seward Park) and study nature. It has 4 miles of road for bicycling and an 1881 lighthouse (oldest in the area). Sounds impressive hur?
Before we reached the park, we were kind of misled by the road sign and made a wrong turn into an army camp! Tanks, barracks were everywhere. Uh oh...fearing for our lives, we scurried back and headed towards the opposite direction.
Reached the entrance of the park, great, now where's the visitor center? We need a map of the area, so we could get to the beach for our lunch (Yes! you guessed it! Its picnic again!) There was a sign directing hikers to the center, but none for bikers. And we are not allowed to ride on trails used by hikers. Asked some passer-bys for directions, and was told "to go right to the end where you should turn left when there's a chance to". Uh? Thanks anyway.
We rode uphill, gave up, dismounted, pushed our bikes. Not sure when, but we finally saw some roads on the left. On a side note: This park actually houses military buildings surviving from the park's days as a Army fort, so we have to be real careful not to run into unauthorized territory.
We got onto our bikes, turn left, and yes! The saying again : what goes up must come down. So we went for a free wheeley falley ride downhill. That compensated for our nasty uphill ride earlier. We finally reached the center, but the only map available is pasted on the door. No free ones I guess. By this time, CH was getting kind of grumpy (which usually happens when he's hungry). We had to forgo our nice picnic by the beach and find some grass patch to settle down for our meals.
Enjoying the scenery during our picnic
With energies recharged, we continued our ride, this time to the much-acclaimed lighthouse. Boy, as the guidebook warned, its extremely easy to lose your way here. we could see why: no signs were provided at crossroads. Seriously, this park is in dire need of more signs, especially for bikers. One wrong path and several steps to be retraced. Worse when it turned hilly, so one wrong downhill = one tedious uphill back.
I seemed to hear our cursing and swearing echoing in the park each time we made a wrong turn. It was close to evening when we finally reached the beach, and lighthouse.
The lighthouse is out of bounds to the public, but some folks still found their way in. Otherwise my picture would be perfect.
Slowly we made our way back, @#$@! as we pushed our bikes uphill. We will be back, as trekkers to explore the trail which loops around the region.
Our reward before we headed home:
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